SmackDown Rating, WWE/USA Network Exec Profiled, More

— NBC/Universal Cable Entertainment Chairman Bonnie Hammer has been profiled in the Hollywood Reporter’s yearly Top 100 Women in Entertainment list, which she tied for second on alongside Amy Pascal of Sony and just behind ABC/Disney’s Anne Sweeney. The profile discusses her time presiding over USA Network and SyFy and her experience working with WWE. Hammer notes that she considered quitting when she was given the job of working on WWF for USA and was told to take over the show due to a lack of storylines in the product. Hammer says that her husband convinced her to get to know the WWF product and that she spent several weeks watching and learning it, then met with Vince McMahon. She told Vince “Listen, up until two weeks ago, I never watched your show. I don’t know what your business is and I don’t care what your business is. The only thing I know is how to make good TV.” Hammer was very hands-on with the show to the point that she was on the line telling them what they should show during broadcasts. She calls her time with working WWE one of the most enjoyable of her career and the profile credits her with “reinvigorating” the product. Hammer is now one of the companies biggest allies within NBC/Universal and was instrumental in bringing ECW, NXT and Smackdown to SyFy. She notes that her next goal is revamping the E! Network.

— CM Punk appeared on the Philadelphia CBS affiliate and spoke about his fan base in the town and going overseas to perform for the troops.